The soundtrack for Tran Thanh's latest film, "Tho Oi," is gaining significant attention, particularly the song "Giu anh em cung lam khong xong." Performed by LyLy, who also stars as the female lead Hai Linh, the track has quickly amassed millions of listens across various platforms. LyLy tailor-made the pop ballad for the film, drawing inspiration from Hai Linh's story as a successful career woman grappling with emotional wounds. The lyrics offer a confessional reflection on the anguish of a relationship's end: "It's hard to say, but let's just stop/ And perhaps there's no need to argue over who is to blame/ It's because I'm too incompetent, I couldn't even keep you by my side."
The music video (MV) for "Giu anh em cung lam khong xong" features a minimalist style, showcasing LyLy performing on stage with a band. Interspersed throughout the video are pivotal scenes from "Tho Oi," illustrating the tumultuous romance between Hai Linh and The Phong (Vinh Dam). These clips depict their journey from idyllic dates in Da Lat to intense arguments as they try to salvage their crumbling marriage.
Since its release, the MV has garnered 4 million views on Facebook and generated considerable buzz on TikTok. Thousands of young people are following the trend, incorporating the song into clips that express their emotions about the film. Audience member Ngoc Thuong praised the song's profound melody, noting its particular impact when heard in theaters during the film's conclusion. However, some critics suggest that the lyrics, while poignant, do not evoke the same deep regret or lasting impression as "Sau loi tu khuc," the soundtrack for Tran Thanh's previous film "Mai," performed by Phan Manh Quynh.
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Characters Hai Linh and The Phong in "Tho Oi". Photo: Thanh Huyen |
"Tho Oi" marks LyLy's debut in cinema, a significant step in her career. Tran Thanh personally invited her to audition for the female lead after she participated in the 2025 show "Em xinh say hi," which he hosted. LyLy, whose real name is Nguyen Hoang Lan, is 30 years old and hails from Da Nang. In 2016, she moved alone to TP HCM, where she began earning a living by performing in coffee shops. Her journey in music includes an early elimination from season two of the reality show "Nhan to bi an" (X-Factor). However, in late 2018, her MV "24h" topped the charts and achieved 185 million views on YouTube. In 2024, she joined "Our song," a program designed for two generations of artists to collaborate on reimagining classic hits.
Beyond LyLy's contribution, director Tran Thanh also incorporated the song "Hoa gao" (by Ngoc Dai and Phan Huyen Thu) into "Tho Oi," performed by Thanh Lam and Van Mai Huong. Ha Tran previously recorded this song in the 2000s for her album 98-03. For the film, "Hoa gao" received a dramatic, mysterious rearrangement, creating a striking atmosphere each time the character Nhat Ha (Phao) appears. Nhat Ha is portrayed as the woman suspected of disrupting the female lead's marriage, and the song underscores her enigmatic presence.
The narrative of "Tho Oi" centers on Hai Linh, the accomplished MC of the popular talk show "Chi Bo Vai." On her program, she listens to anonymous guests' stories and offers sagacious advice, presenting herself as a rational woman adept at discerning the core of any issue. The plot thickens when Nhat Ha (Phao) shares personal details on the show, revealing she is in love with a married man. This confession draws Hai Linh into a web of secrets that quickly spirals beyond her control.
Mai Nhat
